President Akufo-Addo exchanging pleasantries with the family members
Government has decided to honour the memory of the former Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, who passed away last Friday with a state burial.
President Akufo-Addo announced the decision at the Jubilee House when the family of the former vice president, led by his brother, Jabesh Amissah-Arthur, formally informed government of his demise.
President Akufo-Addo disagreed with plans by the family to organize a modest funeral according to the wishes of the deceased.
That, he said, was because their son became a ‘property’ of the state after serving as Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and Vice President.
As a sign of respect, President Akufo-Addo has directed all flags in the country and abroad to be flown at half-mast.
The bereaved family said they had fruitful discussions on the funeral arrangements with the Department of State Protocol and thanked government for the support.
The family is expected to hold a church service on Friday, July 6, 2018 to observe one-week of the passing the former vice president.
They would announce plans for the final funeral rites at the event.
Mr. Amissah-Arthur collapsed at the Air Force Officers’ Gym in the early hours of Friday, June 26, 2018. He was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Members of the delegation included Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, former member of the Council of State, Baba Kamara, former National Security Coordinator, Osabarima Kwesi Attah II, Omanhene of Oguaa Traditional area, James Agyenim Boateng and Emelia Arthur, former Presidential Staffers, Nana Sam Brew-Butler, former President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Dr Kwesi Nyan Amissah-Arthur, son of the former Vice President.
The late vice president served as special assistant to the Secretary of Finance and Economic Planning, Kwesi Botchwey from 1983 to 1986 during the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) administration headed by former President Jerry John Rawlings.
Born on April 29, 1951, Mr. Amissah-Arthur later became Deputy Minister of Finance in 1993 after Ghana returned to multiparty democracy and served in that capacity until 1997.
When former President John Evans Atta-Mills assumed office, Mr. Armissah-Arthur was appointed Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) in October 2009.
He was elevated to the position of Vice President on August 6, 2012 following the death of Prof. Mills.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu Presidential Correspondent